Sounding Off: Garland-Mesquite readers tell us what they think of legalizing marijuana

Jason Fochtman/AP

A bill to fully legalize marijuana was unexpectedly approved by a House panel in early May. It is unclear if the bill will make it to a floor vote before the legislative session ends.

A bill to fully legalize marijuana was unexpectedly approved by a House panel last week. Do you think Texas should legalize marijuana in any capacity?
Mary Grimaldo, Garland: My opinion is that laws about driving drunk and going to work under the influence should also apply to people who are high on marijuana. We should develop more refined tests so that a proper determination can be made by officials, in case there is a problem that arises that brings in law enforcement. If legalizing pot will reduce crime, fine. But if it causes more traffic accidents, industrial accidents or interferes with a person doing his or her job safely and productively, then I have an issue with it.
There are also medical side effects to consider. In the case of alcohol, abuse can bring on stomach and other cancers of the intestinal system, as well as liver failure. Marijuana will affect lungs and has been shown to cause brain changes. However, some studies have shown that extracts can help certain medical problems. So there are good and bad aspects to consider. Since all the facts are not in, I really believe experts on all sides should be able to present more information for the legislators to make a decision. But it sounds like some have already made up their minds, regardless of what the facts may show and are not prepared to listen to expanded information.

Michele Vernet, Garland: I have been in favor of legalizing this wonderful God-given herb since the 1960s. I thought then that Texas would beat all other states and legalize. Medically, it could do so much to help so many pain-afflicted [people] who have no relief except to either drink their pain to sleep or eventually think about suicide. Texas, do the right thing: Legalize marijuana. Booze has and continues to kill and it’s legal. What a joke.

Lee D. Wilson, Garland: We already have a host of valuable and legal drugs made from cocaine and other illegal items, so there is no reason not to legalize medically useful oils made from marijuana. On the other hand, there is absolutely no excuse to legalize the full hallucinogenic forms of marijuana either.

Elizabeth Walley, Mesquite: I am all for legalization of marijuana but certainly not for the same reason as Rep. Simpson. I have to wonder if Rep. Simpson is kidding when he says marijuana comes from God so it shouldn’t be banned. I’d be supportive of legalization for all purposes, including social, as long as there were regulations in place to prevent its sale to minors, provide quality control so we don’t get poisoned and levy taxes like we do for alcohol. Recognizing that Texas is not ready for this step, I believe Rep. Simpson’s bill is a waste of time. It’s a real shame because there is a very real and legitimate need for medical marijuana. I hope in all the confusion that medical usage gets through because there are a lot of people in this state who would benefit from it.

Sara James, Garland: No, I’m not in favor of legalizing marijuana in any capacity. I know there are people that believe in the use of marijuana for medical purposes, but in the states where they legalized it, it is really easy for anyone to get marijuana even if they don’t have a true medical reason. Most of the states that have legalized it now wish they hadn’t since they have seen a rise in people moving to their states for the drug, people not working and children accidentally ingesting the drug. I feel that the risks outweigh the benefits.

Dale Word, Mesquite: No, I don’t think we should legalize it. I grew up in the 1960s and I had lots of friends who used it and not one of them grew up to be a responsible adult.

Peggy Henger, Garland: I have strongly been in favor of legalizing marijuana for a long time. There are way too many young lives spent in prison, rather than in school, because of minor, non-violent smoking of marijuana. This is a waste of our young people. The education they receive in prison is not the education these young people need to succeed in life. I hope we come to our senses and use medical information, not some screwed up morality mentality, and make an enlightened decision to legalize marijuana.

Angel-Light Love, Garland: I have mixed emotions about the legalization of marijuana. In weighing the issue, I find myself in favor of legalization. The pros outweigh the cons, and readers of The Dallas Morning News don’t need me to describe them in-depth here. What stands out in my mind is all the people who have criminal records as a result of possessing and using a small amount of marijuana often serving or having served much stiffer sentences than people who have committed violent crimes. In my opinion, it’s long past time for marijuana to join tobacco and alcohol in the legal category.

Cynthia Stock, Garland: The Dallas Morning News has printed several stories about prescription pain killers being some of the most abused drugs in our culture. As a nurse, I see attempts at suicide often involve prescription drugs. And DUIs are a result of overconsumption of legal alcoholic beverages. Marijuana has demonstrated benefits for patients with seizures, cancer patients with nausea and MS patients who have muscle spasms. I support unconditional legalization so this drug will be subject to quality control, will be taxed, will address special needs of people with serious health problems and will not cause criminalization of people who choose to smoke marijuana rather than drink.

Edward Skeen, Garland: Should marijuana be legalized because it comes from God? I haven’t heard of anything so stupid in quite some time. Whether that particular stalk of marijuana weed was a duplicate of what God made is debatable. The original weed was made by God, as is everything else that grows and has not been changed with chemicals by some dumb human. From what I’ve seen in my quarter-century is ignorant humans found a weed that will addle their brain and hide their problems for a little while. Trouble starts when the addle wears off and the aches and pains come roaring back with a vengeance. What we need is help for these folks in the form of a cure.

Wayne Williams, Garland: I don’t accept the argument by the bill’s author Rep. David Simpson of Longview. It's the use of marijuana that is and should continue to be banned. The use of it can and will destroy the minds of the youth of America.

Hal McLarry, Garland: Fewer laws equals better government. Legalize marijuana and let people be responsible for themselves. Our police and courts have much more important things to do. Instead of spending time and money to put otherwise law abiding citizens in jail we could be collecting taxes on it. That money could be used for education and reducing property taxes. However, I disagree with Rep. Simpson’s reasoning that it should be legal because it comes from God. That shouldn’t enter in to it. We need a little more separation of church and state and a little more personal resposibilty.

Charlie McReynolds, Garland: No, by no means do we need this menace. Just because he says it comes from God is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard of. This drug leads to other more powerful drugs and they also came from God. Common sense also comes from God but what this stuff does to good people does not come from God, it comes from the bottomless pit.